The sunlights creeping through the blinds was the first thing Isabel felt when she slowly stirred awake.Her head throbbed in steady and painful pulses with soft groans escaping her lips. She blinked groggily trying to remember where she was.
What the hell happened last night? she asked herself but the fog in her mind made it difficult to focus.She rubbed her eyes trying to clear away the haze.She lifted herself slowly from the bed with her head pounding making her nauseous.She stood up and then saw Steph lying on the couch across the room with her face down and one arm hanging lazily of the side.
"Steph." she called weakly with her voice sounding horse.She nudged Steph many times.
"Steph… wake up." Steph groaned but didn't stirr.Isabel sighed and sat down on the edge of the couch shaking her friends shoulder.
"Steph,get up. We need to figure out what happened last night." and finally Steph groggily rolled over blinking up at Isabel with a confused expression.
"Ughh," Steph mumbled while rubbing her eyes."I swear my head feels like it about to explode.What time is it?"
Isabel glanced at the clock and it was passed noon.
"Steph, what happened last night? I… I don't remember anything." Steph squinted at her and then let out a small laugh.
"you don't remember?"she dragged herself up into a sitting position. "Well, let me remind you…we went to the club,got way too drunk and you made a scene with a guy."
Isabel blinked. "A scene? What kind of scene?"
"Come on, you really don't remember?"Steph said raising an eyebrow.
"You bumped into some guy and you basically yelled at him.He caught you multiple times when you stumbled and I'm guessing you insulted him at some point." She gave Isabel a teasing look. "You didn't like him though, right? I mean you didn't kiss him or anything so….
"No!"Isabel interrupted quickly with her face flushing with embarrassment. "No kissing,nothing like that. I don't even remember what he looked like."
"I can't believe I don't remember."she murmured to herself with her voice tinged with frustration. "What if he thinks I'm….I don't know,a mess?"
Steph flopped back onto the couch smirking. "Relax, it's not like you will ever see him again. It's just a drunken encounter." "And don't you have a meeting today?"
Isabel hesitated her mind running in circles as the memory of the call and conversation of Marcus came rushing back.
"Oh God, yeah." she said finally. Steph nodded.
"Alright,I will drive you but first, let's freshen up and I'm getting us food.I think we both need to eat something that isn't tequila."
Isabel managed a small smile. "Sounds like a good plan."
As Steph headed to the kitchen, Isabel sat there for a moment longer, lost in thought. She shook her head trying to clear thought. She couldn't afford to focus on that because She had business to take care of.
Isabel stepped out of the sleek black car into the bustling streets of downtown. She couldn't help but feel a flicker of nerves at the thought of stepping inside Blackwell Industries.She was there for a reason,the meeting which could be a turning point for her family's business so no room for mistakes. She reminded himself while straightening her blazer. As she stepped inside, she saw the receptionist sitting behind a minimalist desk, typing away on her computer.
"Good morning," Isabel said with her voice steady, "I have an appointment with Mr. Blackwell. My name is Isabel Reeves."
The receptionist didn't look up immediately and when she did, her eyes flicked over Isabel with a practiced,almost almost indifferent gaze before she reached for the phone.
"Please take a seat, Mr. Blackwell is running a little behind today." Isabel nodded and moved to one of the comfortable leather chair near the window.
Behind schedule?, she glanced at her watch and it was already past the time they scheduled for the meeting. Minutes turned into half an hour and then an hour and still no word.Isabel kept running through her phone, trying not to let her frustration show. Just as she thought about standing up and leaving, a door at the far side of the lobby opened and a tall man walked towards her. It was Marcus, the one she spoke with.
"Ms.Reeves, "Mr. Blackwell will see you now." He extended his hand toward the door.
"Right this way, Ms.Reeves."
Isabel hesitated for a second and then followed him down the narrow hallway lined with modern artwork. Marcus opened the door to an office, his fingers brushing the edge of the door before he stepped aside to let her in. Isabel forced her shoulder back as she stepped fully into the office. The room was enormous with glad walls and a skyline view. Sebastian Blackwell didn't look up immediately. He finished signing somet
hing and then closed the file and lifted his eyes.
"Ms.Reeves, you're late."